Because behind every great awards night are the people who know greatness when they see it.
As the countdown begins to the 2026 edition of the Probate Industry Awards – happening at Pan Pacific London on 23 April 2026, we’re thrilled to introduce you to the outstanding individuals who will be guiding our judging panel. They’re leaders, innovators and advocates in the probate and private‑client world, and they bring the expertise, integrity and passion we believe the Probies deserve.
Amy Lane
Amy is a Partner in the Private Client team at gunnercooke. After training and qualifying at a regional firm in Kent and spending six years at another regional firm, she now handles a full spectrum of private client work. She is a full STEP member, contracted examiner for STEP exams, full member of ALL, and a Dementia Friend. Amy has also served on the Kent Law Society and Tunbridge Wells & Tonbridge District Law Society councils. She’s published in the STEP journal on redefining social norms and family definitions with particular focus on assisted conception—an area she is passionate about.
Amy brings a rare combination of commercial smarts, technical pedigree and social awareness. That means entries to The Probies which reflect diversity, new family models or evolving practice will get her full attention.
Chris Reynolds
Chris has worked at Ramsdens since 1997 and has over 40 years’ experience in Private Wealth and Succession work. He focuses on high value probate matters, estates often exceeding £1 million, and helps clients and families manage long term estate stability. Chris and his team have won multiple industry awards (including Best Probate Law Firm, North at the UK Probate Research Awards four years in a row 2019–2022) and were highly commended at The Probies 2025 for ‘Probate Law Firm of the Year – National’.
Chris brings heavyweight technical chops and results driven experience — particularly for high value, complex matters.
David Masterton
David is Chief Revenue Officer at Premier Solicitors, leading national partnerships, acquisitions and strategic development. Known for his commercial acumen, collaborative leadership and commitment to uplift industry standards, David champions quality legal services and ethical business practices. As a seasoned judge, he brings insight, integrity and real world business perspective to the awards.
This means that for nominations which reflect scalable growth, client engagement excellence or strategic innovation in probate practice – David will be looking very closely.
David Opie
David is Managing Editor of Today’s Media, the publishing business serving the legal services sector. Under his leadership, Today’s Conveyancer, Today’s Wills and Probate and Today’s Family Lawyer have become essential reads for practitioners. As podcast host, David explores key topics with individuals and organisations that power this sector.
His inclusion ensures The Probies don’t just stay inward looking: we will recognise cultural leadership, media impact and communications excellence as part of what makes a standout nomination.
Gary Shaw
Gary is Managing Director of Property Solutions Group, a UK property firm specialising in probate property management, estate funding and value preserving solutions. He has helped save estates around £4 million in selling fees, built sustained relationships with solicitors and will writing professionals, and innovated in deprived payment funding to help estates cover costs efficiently. Gary also serves as a judge for The Probies.
His expertise brings to light the critical role of estates’ property management, compliance, innovation and client service in the probate ecosystem — areas we’ll be honouring at the 2026 awards.
Heledd Wyn
Based in Bristol, Heledd is a Partner specialising in private client services and long term care. With extensive experience in future planning, private wealth, Wills, Powers of Attorney, trusts and Court of Protection matters, she is especially recognised for her expertise in long term and elderly care issues – from navigating local authority assessments to tackling contested proceedings.
Heledd’s combination of technical strength and empathy for vulnerable clients makes her insight invaluable when we assess nominations that sit at the intersection of legal excellence and client care excellence.
Ian Bond
Ian is a solicitor specialising in Wills, Trusts and Probate, a long standing member of the Law Society’s Wills & Equity committee and a new member of STEP’s UK Technical Committee. A strong advocate for industry reform, Ian brings both depth of technical expertise and a progressive mindset.
His role on the judging panel helps ensure The Probies rewards not only excellence as it is today, but also forward thinking practice that helps shape the future of the probate profession.
Jade Gani
Jade is the Founder & CEO of Circe Law. She is deeply committed to supporting older and vulnerable clients in the community and dedicates considerable time to local charities and initiatives. Jade is a fully accredited member of Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), a fully accredited member and Chair of Association of Lifetime Lawyers (ALL), and is on the Law Society’s Wills & Equity Committee. She was named both “Wills & Probate Lawyer of the Year” and overall “Private Client Lawyer of the Year” at the Modern Law Private Client Awards 2024.
Jade brings a sharp eye for excellence and a genuine heart for service—exactly the kind of judge calibre we’re proud to welcome at The Probies.
Lakshmi Turner
Lakshmi is a marketing specialist with over 30 years’ experience in business strategy, branding, proposition development, product service delivery, marketing communications and PR. A graduate of King’s College London and holder of a full time MBA (1990–91), she has consulted to the legal profession, and in 2004 joined the ALL as Development Officer, becoming Chief Operating Officer in 2010 and CEO in January 2014.
Lakshmi’s inclusion reminds us that The Probies are not only about technical legal excellence: they’re also about how you present your service, your brand, your values and your impact. She will champion submissions that reflect excellent stakeholder engagement, communicative clarity and professional identity.
Nimesh Ganatra
As Head of Risk & Compliance at Legal Eye, Nimesh is at the cutting edge of regulatory, risk and product innovation in legal services. He leads on regulatory knowledge management, product development and mentoring of young legal associates.
For us, his presence means a careful and informed evaluation of any award entries touching on compliance, innovation and practice standards. It’s an increasingly important angle in the probate sector and The Probies will reflect that.
Paige Gouldthorpe
Paige spearheads the Court of Protection and Vulnerable Persons Team at Fosters Solicitors, supporting some of the most vulnerable individuals in society. She holds three national awards for her legal work, serves as Chair and Sector Lead for the national group Women in Wills, and was named among the “Top 100 Inspiring Women of Norfolk”. Beyond her professional practice, Paige sits on the boards of several regional charities.
Her focus on combining advocacy with empathy means she’s ideally placed to recognise nominees who go the extra mile… not just technically, but humanely.
Trusha Velji
Trusha is Director of Touch Solicitors Limited, a niche award winning law firm devoted to vulnerable clients. Despite being a sole practitioner, she is highly respected, appears regularly on television, radio and in publications, and commits significant time to charitable and pro bono work.
Her presence on the panel sends a clear message: size is not everything. Impact, dedication and commitment to underserved communities matter equally at The Probies.
Trevor Worth
With over 35 years’ experience in legal services, Trevor founded his business at age 22, specialises now in Inheritance & Succession Planning, and holds an MBA from University of Exeter. Trevor is a guest lecturer on innovation and entrepreneurship at several universities, sits on advisory boards of business schools, has served on the advisory panel of the Legal Services Board, and in 2022 was elected President and first Fellow of The B.E.S.T. Foundation. He is fully STEP qualified and is recognised as a legal innovator.
Outside of law, he built a soccer coaching academy (1995–2008), worked as a talent scout for professional football clubs, and in January 2019 introduced a 4 day week at his firm while increasing salaries, drawing the moniker “The Best Boss in the World!”.
Trevor brings decades of experience plus bold, entrepreneurial thinking to our panel.
What this means for you…
With such a high‑calibre judging panel in place, the message is clear: The Probate Industry Awards 2026 will reward substance + style, technical excellence + client focus, and innovation + impact. Whether you are a solicitor, barrister, probate researcher, estate administration provider, technology partner or specialist service firm – there is a place for you at this celebration of the very best in probate and private‑client practice.
How you can get involved
- Nominate: The nomination process is open at https://www.probateindustryawards.com — don’t wait, submissions will close soon.
- Sponsor: If you want to amplify your brand, engage with the community and align yourself with excellence in the probate sector, explore our sponsorship packages early.
- Attend: Join us on 23 April 2026 at Pan Pacific London. Mix and mingle, celebrate with your peers, and witness first‑hand the glitz and glamour of The Probies.
Let’s make 2026 the biggest event yet – one where innovation, compassion and excellence in the probate industry shine through. See you on the red carpet.